Nomad

I just re-read this and SWIFT back to back (shh, it's been a few years, I'd forgotten a lot of it) and am so very proud of the way Ivy and Martin's story turned out. I can't wait to finally share the brand-new third book of the trilogy with my readers in February 2021!

MY HEART EXPLODED.<br /><br />Update, 4 years later: MY HEART IS STILL EXPLODING.

This book finishes the story begun in SWIFT, and also reveals that the series is a spin-off of another series which, like a turnip, I didn't begin with. Oh well.<br /><br />I enjoyed this story even more than SWIFT, especially the final quarter or so which set up a series of wonderfully heart-wrenching dilemmas. As with the previous book, I loved that this one was tonally very much a throwback to the YA literature of the 1950s and 60s - think of THE DARK IS RISING or THE CHRONICLES OF PRYDAIN. There's darkness peeking in at the corners of RJ Anderson's faery world, but she does a great job of using a light touch to describe it.<br /><br />There were two things going on in this book that I particularly enjoyed. First, a lot of the story revolves around the question of whether a character with an evil past has really repented or not. Second, it's about a young woman trying to alert her friends and relations to the fact that their ruler does not in fact have their best interests at heart, and I loved the way this was depicted - Ivy doesn't want to start a revolution, she just wants to convince her old neighbours that they're being exploited and lied to, and that it's slowly killing them. I thought that whole plotline was brilliantly handled.

This was my favourite book in the trilogy. The characters growth was amazing, the plot moved really nicely, and it kept me utterly captivated. I really liked seeing how the story opened after book one. We got to explore more and get a better feel of the world that the characters are in. <br /><br />Not a thing to complain about in this one. I would love to read it again lol

*4.5 stars*<br />THE PLOT TWISTS THOUGH. <br />I was /not/ planning to enjoy this as much as I did. The first book was cute but this one was wonderful. I’m emotionally invested now. ??

The first book got me interested in the series. This book got me ✨invested✨.<br /><br />If you enjoy....<br /><br />⇒Coming-of-age tales<br />⇒Redemption arcs<br />⇒Contemporary issues dealt with in a fantasy world<br />⇒Imperfect, but relatable protagonists<br />⇒Family drama<br />⇒Slow-burn, clean romance<br />⇒True heroes as opposed to anti-heroes<br />⇒Love triangles that don't drive you crazy, but are a bit heart wrenching<br /><br />...then I would say this trilogy is for you. If the first book seems a bit too juvenile for you, persevere into this one, and I believe that thought will disappear early on in the story. <br /><br />I hope you give this trilogy a try!! <br />

I was so not ready for this story to be over! <b>Such a glorious sequel, that had me hooked the whole time.</b><br /><br />I love how the characters continue to grow and develop since the first book, and I just fell more in love with them.<br /><br /><b>The storytelling of this book is masterful and I enjoyed the whole story immensely.</b><br /><br />Hugely recommend to all lovers of fairytales! I can't wait for <i>TORCH</i> to release in February 2021!

Where to even begin? <br /><br />This story swept me up in an immersive fairy tale world and never let me go. The lore behind the spriggans, piskeys, and faerys was deep, but with a new twist that had me feeling as if I had never read about fairies before. <br /><br />Ivy is a true heroine! I loved watching her grow throughout this book and step into her role as a leader. She learned to conquer her fears and fly free. <br /><br />And then Martin: that weasel-faced spriggan whom I adore. His character is my favorite. There are so many levels to his character, and I'm always trying to figure him out. His witty quips, and well-placed Shakespeare quotes had me laughing through the entire book. I am looking forward to seeing him appear more in TORCH. <br /><br />Anderson has crafted a breathtaking fairytale full of adventure, friendship, mystery, and suspense! Readers of all ages will be delighted with Nomad, and find it hard to say goodbye at "The End."

<a href="http://paperbackwonderland.blogspot.pt/" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1380238999i/681674.png" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><br><br><b>4.5 stars</b><br><br>The <i>Faerie Rebels</i> and <i>Swift</i> series are pure YA gold, worthy of a spriggan hoard!<br><br>In <i>Nomad</i>, we pick up right where <i>Swift</i> left off: with Ivy banished from the Delve and in the company of "Richard" (now Martin). And though details were a bit hazy to me, seeing as I read <i>Swift</i> 2 years ago, thankfully, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/838571699?book_show_action=false" rel="nofollow noopener">Susana</a> was reading it now, so I could ask questions to my heart's content.<br><br>Ivy and Martin, while hiding in a cave, come upon a hoard of spriggan treasure which allows them to live in more comfort. But that's the only bit of luck they seem to have: Martin is still looking for his people and trying to find out who he was, and Ivy, plagued my dreams of a spriggan boy from 400 years past, still has to find a way to save her people from the poisoned Delve, and the rule of her aunt Betony. <br><br>Apart from a brief exposure of the "<i>Nice Guy</i>" who is friendly just as long as there is a chance for "<i>something</i>" else, and a few attempts to overcome fantastical racism, there weren't many social issues represented in this book - at least compared to what usually shows up in this series; to date: disability, racism (albeit the fantastical type), cultural clash, feminism, spiritual doubt, infertility, toxic familial relationships, among many others. <br>That's not to say it wasn't an excellent book from start to finish, but I was expecting more, that's how greedy R.J. Anderson's writing has made me...<br><br>Ivy, as in the previous book, is still an amazingly believable and well-written character. Her thought-processes and actions make sense, she's mature for her age, but not so mature as to be unbelievable, she's brave, and stubborn, and loyal, and a delight to read!<br>Martin is still his Shakespeare obsessed self, given to a bit of the over dramatic at times, but thoughtful and so heartbreakingly intent on hiding his true emotions! <br><br>That's one of the (many) things I love about R.J. Anderson's writing: how she writes so much emotion, and has her characters attempt to hide it, and the readers suffering alongside them. <br><br>This book ends on a bit of a cliffhanger, which I usually despise, but in this case I just rejoiced, because it means there must be another book in the making, and I, for one, cannot wait to get my hands on it!<br>

<a href="http://paperbackwonderland.blogspot.pt/" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1380238999i/681674.png" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a><br><br>So, I've just finished this story, and in the aftermath of this glorious experience, all I can say is basically:<br><br>THE FOLLOWING ONE, BETTER NOT BE THIS SERIES' LAST VOLUME! <br><br>How can I possibly face a world without all of these characters???<br><br>Okay, Martin's dramatics may have rubbed off... a tiny bit... on me. BUT it's true. I will miss all of them, as sure as I would miss long time friends.<br><br>This is an amazing series that develops contemporary issues, giving them spotlight in these characters' lives. Who cares if they're fairies, sprigans or piskeys?<br><br>They feel real. They act real.<br><br>In my mind they are real... and they broke my heart while reading this story!<br><br> <br><br>The politics in the Piskey world have taken a turn for the worst.<br><br>As we saw in the last book, Ivy was thrown out by her aunt Betony, _the Joan (this title means she gets to give the orders...), _despite having saved them all, but the Piskeys remain in danger.<br><br>The place were they have lived their entire lives is poisoned, and they keep dying or growing sick, and their Joan doesn't do anything about it. <br><br>Once again it will be up to Ivy to find a way to go against her aunt's intransigence.<br><br>Helping her we have Martin (aka Richard, aka you better not trust me, aka Shakespeare is my life!) and some piskey friends.<br><br> <br><br>Ivy is young, and she feels young while reading this story.<br><br>She makes mistakes. She's not a Knife (see book with the same name)... which is good, because this means the author kept her real... to the way she was raised!<br><br>This means that mostly she fights with her heart. She fails, and she has to get up, even when she doesn't believe it possible<br><br> Martin is the opposite, with a melodramatic vein in him.<br><br>He's a jaded, sarcastic, at times impossible to figure out, character!<br><br>I love him! Especially in the way he's always there for Ivy.<br><br>We follow Ivy's story, and Ivy's path, and all of a sudden, his story, and his past, are right in the middle of it. Good and unexpected twist!<br><br> Oh, oh, and the way it ends... ;) *big Cheshire smile*<br><br>Can I just say how much I love this weasel?<br><br>Again? ;)<br><br> <br><br>Can't wait to read the follow up!<br><br>